Ruling party’s hoodlums’ tried to stop yatra, alleges Congress

Guwahati: The Assam Pradesh Congress Commitee’s ‘Samay Paribartan — Mati Bachao, Jati Bachao’ yatra is facing obstructions, allegedly by BJP supporters, in various parts of the state.Congress said the “ruling party’s hoodlums” attempted to obstruct the yatra for the second consecutive day on Saturday. In northern Assam’s Sonitpur district, Congress workers faced protests allegedly from BJP supporters, and a journalist was also assaulted.On the third day of the yatra on Saturday, a high-level Congress delegation led by APCC president Gaurav Gogoi entered Sonitpur district. The delegation included AICC general secretary in charge of Assam Jitendra Singh, election observer Bandhu Tirkey, AICC Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba, leader of opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia, MPs Pradyut Bordoloi and Rakibul Hussain, AP Mahila Congress president Mira Borthakur, former Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora, MLA Shivamani Bora, among others.Accompanied by hundreds of party supporters, the Congress delegation was travelling in a specially designed vehicle when, upon reaching Bihuguri under the Borsola constituency, they were allegedly obstructed by a group of people. Congress claimed that this group was backed by ruling BJP. Congress alleged that the ruling party’s supporters attempted to block the yatra and attack Congress workers. “Not stopping there, miscreants also attacked journalists covering the event.

Several Congress workers were injured in the incident, while equipment, including a microphone belonging to a satellite news channel, was damaged. Defying the obstruction, the Congress yatra continued peacefully towards its destination,” Assam PCC stated in a release.APCC president Gaurav Gogoi condemned the incident in Bihuguri. “Political differences are natural. We may criticise each other sharply on political grounds. But taking the law into one’s own hands or physically attacking anyone is unacceptable,” Gogoi said. “Healthy competition must exist in politics, but vindictive attacks on even a single individual will never be tolerated,” he added.During the course of the yatra, Gogoi also purchased a basket and a broom from a roadside vendor selling bamboo products. He said it was not for personal use but to “clean Assam of the corruption, loot and violence created by BJP.”